Improvement in mail-pouches



UNITED STATES L PATENT OEEICE MARSHALL SMITH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-.POUCHES Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,362, dated April 2S, 1863.

ot' wrapping-paper and twine is, and has been,- the occasion ot' v'ast expense in the postal servv ice ot` the United States, while the clerical labor necessarily involved in the proper wrapping, tying, and directing letters, and packages of letters forms no inconsiderable item of expenditure to be added to the above.

I am aware that many devices have been essayed, having for their object the abolition of paper and twine for wrapping letters in the Post-Office Department of the United States, but all such devices have alike failed to accomplish the desired end or to be adopted to any considerable extent into the postal service.

The object of my invention is the construction of a compact, portable, simple, and durable pouch for the transportation `of letters, which, in proportion to its utility, may be more economical than the devices now in common use for similar purposes, and which at the same time maybe so formed and arrangedthat the unwrapped letters may be deposited and secured therein beyond the danger of chang, rubbing, being torn, or otherwise injured by falling or by any rough handling` or usage incident to the ordinary exigencies of the postal service, and also in such manner that the contained letters may be always convenient to the hand and eye of any person authorized to open the pouch, thereby preventing, as far as possible, any delay in changing or examining the mail, and greatlyfacilitating the early and rapid distribution of the contained letters; and the nature of my invention relates tothe construction of mail-pouches having one or more compartments, which may be opened, and which will be supplied with devices adapted to secure the contained letters in a perfect manner for large or small post-offices and for way or through mails, thereby dispensing with the employment of wrapping-paper and twine in the transportation of letter-mails, and otherwise saving much time, labor, and expense, as hereinafter described and represented.

In reference to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved mail-pouch, representing it as being formed with four compartments. This construction of the mail-pouch is adapted to be employed upon mail-routes having many post-ottices, some of which may be large and others small.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view representing thcpouch constructed with one compartment and adapted to the transportation of through mails. Fig. 3 is a perspective view representing the construction ot' pouch adapted to the transportation of mails on horseback.

' A represents the walls of the pouch, Jformed of suitable materialsolid sole-leather being preferred on 'account of its consistency, elasticity, durability, and general adaptation to the purpose-with the corners and angles iirmly riveted together in a strong and sub-Y walls A and receive the staples j through the slots b', thereby, by the aid ot straps c, torniing a safe, convenient, and permanent fastening of the cover.

The pouch, Fig. l, has four compartments, formed by the partitions d and d', two ot' which are represented, a portion of the wall A being broken out for that purpose.

The upper compartment, No. l, is provided with a strap, e, secured to partition l at e', upon which are slipped the followers f. This device is adapted to the securing of letters ot' the ordinary size, the width of the compartments being adapted to the length of ordinary business-letters. The strap g, secured to the partition rl in the same manner as strap e with its followersf, is arranged to operate crosswise the compartment No. l, and is adapted to the securing of packages larger than ordinary letters.

The compartment No. 2 is provided with a series ot' partitions, li, the spaces between which are calculated to receive small parcels of letters intended for small post-offices along the line of the mail-route, and the names of the different post-offices for which the contents of said spaces or chambers is severally intended may be marked upon the partitions. The contained letters ot' compartment No. 2 will be properly secured by closing and securing the cover B.

The compartments 3 and 4t of pouch, Fig. l, (not shown in the drawings,) are in the rear of compartments No. l and No. 2 on the opposite side of the pouch, and may he furnished with securing devices similar to straps e g and fol lowers fj", being thereby adapted to receive a large number of letters intended for large post-oftices.

The partitions d, d', and hand followers ff may be formed of tar-board or other suitable light material.

The pouch, 2, has one compartment, which is represented as being partially filled with letters, which are secured by means of devices similar to those before described, the straps c and their movable followers f being adapted to confine and properly secure the contained letters without reference to their number.

The pouch, Fig. 3, intended for the transportation et' mails on horseback, will be constructed of the same kind ol materials, and in a ina-nner similar to those before described. l t may be formed with one compartment, No. 5, for newspapers, and one, No. 6, having a series ot' chambers, for letters, the band p Y being adapted to pass over the saddle or the p tainty secure the pouch upon the train.

Pouches intended for through mails, intended for distributing postor-hoes, may be formed with two compartments, one ot' which may he adapted to contain letters for distribution and the other letters for delivery, and the sizes ot' the pouches may be varied according to the nature of the service required.

Having described the construction o1 my invention, the mode. ot using the same may be briefly set forth as follows: The letters to be forwarded will be assorted in the usual man ner and arranged in parcels for the different post-otices to which they may be addressed.

'Ihen the large packages ot'letters will be placed, without wrapping or tying, in the proper pouch for through mails, and there secured by means ofthe straps and followers, as previously set forth. The accompanying wayn bill may be secured under the strap or at one end ofthe package. The small packages for way postpftices, with their way-bills, will be placed properly labeled in' the chambers be-y fore mentioned. The pouches will be closed, locked, and forwarded in the usual manner.

Having described the construction and use of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The employment ot" the mail-pouch A B, constructed substantially as herein described and represented, having one or more compartments, provided with the securing devices ef g ff, or formed with a series of chambers, sub stantially as herein shown, specitied, and represented, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony ot' which invention l have hereunto set my hand and seal, at St. Louis, Mis souri, this 24th day ot December, A. l). 1862.

MARSHALL sMrrH. [n s] In presence of- H. E. CLIFTON, E. A. SKEELE. 

